Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-One

Anderson found Emiko huddled outside his door.In an instant, a good night turns to doubt and dread. In recent days, he has been working like crazy, preparing for the invasion.What's worse, he lost contact with his factory, so he had to spend a lot of time exploring the way back to the strong spring factory safely, so that he wouldn't be spotted by the many white shirts cruising around the factory area.If it weren't for the road that You Fusheng took when he fled, he might still be hiding in the dark alley, and he couldn't even enter the door of the office. Following that path, Anderson slipped into the offices of the strong spring factory.He painted his face black, still carried a bamboo basket on his shoulders, and couldn't help but thank the old lunatic who stole all the company's cash a few days ago.

The whole factory smelled like a stench, and the liquid in the seaweed tanks must have been rotting.But in the dim light, it can be seen that nothing in the office has been touched, which makes him quite relieved.If the white shirt had guards inside... Anderson put his hand to his nose and crept down the stairs to the workshop and into the production line.The smell of rotting seaweed and giant elephant dung grew stronger. Hiding in the shadow of the seaweed cutter, he scrutinized the floor.It is very close to the seaweed cultivation tank, and the smell is extremely strong, like a cow died here and then rotted.All that remains of Yates' future new energy plan is this breath of death.

Anderson knelt and pushed strands of dried seaweed out of a gutter.He fumbled around the edge of the gutter, lifting the iron manhole cover.There was a long scream from the friction of metal on metal.As quietly as possible, Anderson lowered the heavy manhole cover onto the concrete beside him.He lay down on the ground and groped with his arms in the hole, praying that he would not startle a poisonous snake or scorpion.His fingers groped in the darkness, reaching deeper and wetter darkness. For a moment it occurred to him that the thing might have come off and floated down the sewer system devised by His Majesty Rama into the pumps that sucked the groundwater—but then his hand touched a piece of oiled canvas.He took out the thing embedded in the wall of the sewer, secretly happy in his heart.It was a codebook only for those emergencies he never thought of.

In his darkened office, he dialed numbers, activated rangers in Burma and India, and had secretaries everywhere scrambling through encrypted strings that hadn't been used since Finland. Two days after that, he stood on the floating island known as Anglet Island, confirming the final details with the head of the attack team sent by Nongji headquarters.The weapons and equipment will be delivered within a few days, and the attack team is being organized nervously.A lot of money has been put in place, the gold and emeralds will help the army generals change their allegiance to their old friend General Pracha.

Now, after all this preparation, he returned to the city to find Emiko curled up in the doorway of his apartment, covered in blood.At the sight of him, she jumped up and slipped into his arms, sobbing. "What are you doing here?" he whispered, wrapping one arm around her, while with the other he took out the key and opened the door, urging her to hurry in.Her skin was scorching hot, clotted blood was everywhere, and there were large and small cuts on her face and arms.He quickly closed the door, "What happened?" He put her down, wanting to take a good look at her.It was as if she had just stepped out of a sea of ​​blood, with sticky blood dripping all over her body.The wounds on the face and arms obviously wouldn't bleed so much. "Whose blood is it?"

She shook her head and continued to sob. "Wash the blood off your body first." He pulled her into the bathroom, turned on the cold water shower, and pushed her under the shower.She began to tremble, her eyes frantic, and she looked around wildly, panicked to the extreme.She looked almost insane.He wanted to pull off the short-sleeved jacket she was wearing and throw away the blood-stained dress. "No!" She slapped him with a slap, and he stepped back quickly, the place where his cheek was slapped was burning with pain. "What happened?" He stared at her in shock and anger.God, she's so fast.It hurts.He touched his face and there was blood on his hands, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

The gleam of animal panic faded from her eyes.She stared at him blankly, and then she found herself again, becoming human again. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm sorry." She collapsed, curled up under the cold shower, "Sorry, sorry." She spoke Japanese. Anderson crouched beside her, his own clothes soaked by the shower. "Don't worry," he said softly, "take these clothes off, please? Change clothes, please? Can you take them off?" She nodded dumbly, then tore off her jacket and square skirt, and squatted naked under the cool water.He left her alone in the bathroom, picked up her blood-stained clothes, wrapped them in a clean cloth, and carried the bag down the stairs into the dark street.There are people everywhere.He ignored it, and walked briskly in the shadows, bringing the bag of clothes to the edge of a canal.He threw the blood-stained clothes into the water, and the snakehead fish and bodhi carp inside quickly wiped out all the evidence.The river was churning as they competed for food that smelled of blood.

When they returned to the apartment, Emiko had already come out of the bathroom.Her black hair stuck to her face like a frightened animal.He pulled out his daily first-aid kit, dabbed alcohol on her wound, and rubbed an antiviral.She didn't cry out.Her nails were all broken off, and she was covered in bruises all over her body.Although there was some blood all over her body when she came, she was hardly hurt. "What's the matter?" he asked softly. She curled up beside him. "I'm lonely," she whispered. "There's no place for new humans." She trembled violently.

He pulled her into his arms, feeling her hot skin, "It's okay. Soon, everything will change. Everything will be different from what it is now." She shook her head. "No. I don't think so." After a few minutes, she fell asleep, her breathing becoming even, her body finally relaxing and sinking into a deep ignorance. Anderson woke up with a start.The ceiling fan exhausted its joule reserve and stopped turning.He was covered in sweat.Beside him, Emiko panted and rolled over.She is like a furnace.Anderson rolled over and sat up. A gust of breeze blows from the sea and circles the apartment, relieving the heat a little.He looked out at the dark city through the screened window.It was late at night, and the methane lamps in the street were all extinguished.A few faint lights can be seen in the distance, which are fishing villages floating on the sea near Thonburi, where people are struggling to survive by fishing for genetically engineered sea fish.

There is a knock on the door.Slamming on the door like a storm. Emiko's eyes snapped open.She sat up, "What's the sound?" "Someone's knocking on the door." He tried to get up from the bed, but she grabbed his arm so tightly that broken nails dug into his skin. "Don't open the door!" she whispered.Her skin was pale by the moonlight.Fear was written in his eyes, "Please." The sound of slamming the door was louder, like thunder, and faster than thunder. "Why not?" "I..." She paused, "It must be a white shirt."

"What?" Anderson's heart seemed to have stopped. "They followed you here? Why? What happened to you?" She shook her head pitifully.He stared at her closely, unable to imagine the secrets of this person who suddenly broke into his life, "What happened tonight?" She didn't answer, her eyes were still fixed on the door that kept making loud noises.Anderson got up and ran to the door, shouting, "Wait a minute! I'm getting dressed!" "Anderson!" There was a shout from outside the door, it was Carlisle, "open the door quickly! Something serious happened!" Anderson turned around and stared at Emiko, "It's not a white shirt. Hurry up and hide." "No?" At that moment, Emiko was visibly relieved.But fear returned to her, and she shook her head, "You're mistaken." Anderson looked at her angrily, "Did you mess with the white shirt? Did they do the wound on your body?" She shook her head pitifully, didn't say anything, just curled up into a small ball. "Jesus and Noah." Anderson came to the closet, took out all the clothes in it, and threw them on her, as well as the small gifts he bought when he fell in love with her, "Maybe you plan to show up in public, But I'm not ready to be destroyed by you. Put on my clothes and hide in the closet." She just kept shaking her head.Anderson struggled to control his volume and speak for her.He felt as if he was speaking to a piece of wood.He got down on one knee, cupped her chin in both hands, and turned her face to him. "The guy out there is one of my business associates. This has nothing to do with you, but you still have to hide until he leaves. Do you understand? Just hide for a little while. I need you to hide until he Leave. I don't want him to see the two of us together, and I don't want him to take advantage of it." Slowly, her slack gaze refocused, and that trance look gradually disappeared.Carlisle was still pounding on the door.Her eyes flicked toward the door, then fixed on Anderson. "It's a white shirt," she whispered. "There are a lot of them outside, and I can hear their voices." Suddenly, she seemed to have returned to her resigned look just now, "It must be a white shirt. Hide It's no use getting up." Anderson fought the urge to yell at her, "Not a white shirt." The door slammed loudly, "Open the fucking door, Anderson!" He turned around and shouted, "Wait a minute!" He hurriedly put on his pants and looked at her angrily, "It's not a damn white shirt. Carlisle would rather cut his own throat than mix with a white shirt." Carlisle yelled again: "Come on! What the hell!" "Coming!" He turned and began to order her, "Hide. Now." No longer a request, but an order.He was exploiting the servility deep in her genes and her training. Her body stiffened, and suddenly she moved.She nodded, "Yes. I will do as you say." While talking, she has started to dress.Although it was still the kind of movement that stopped and stopped, it was very fast, so fast that he couldn't see clearly.She put on a jumper and a pair of slacks, and the movement suddenly accelerated again, shockingly fast.So fluid, so quirky, and so elegant all at the same time. "It's no use hiding," she said.She turned around and ran to the balcony. "what are you doing?" She turned and smiled at him, as if about to say something - but she jumped off the edge of the balcony and disappeared into the darkness outside the window. "Emiko!" Anderson rushed to the balcony. There is nothing below.No people, no screams, no flesh hitting the ground, no screams as her body shattered into pieces.There was nothing, as if the night had swallowed her whole.The knock on the door rang again. Anderson could hear his heart beating violently in his chest.Where has she gone?How did she do it?It's amazing.She is so determined and moves so quickly.In one moment she was still on the balcony, in the next moment she had stepped out of the balcony and disappeared.Anderson peered into the darkness.There was no way she could have jumped onto another balcony.But even so... did she really fall?is she dead The whole wooden door was cracked open.Anderson turned sharply.Carlisle stumbles into the apartment. "What's wrong……" The Panthers rushed in after Carlisle and pushed him aside.Under the dim light, the combat armor on the soldier's body shimmered.A soldier grabbed Anderson, spun him around, and slammed him against the wall.A pair of hands searched his whole body.He struggled, but they forced his face against the wall.More people rushed in.The doors of every room were kicked open, and some were even kicked into pieces.The sound of military boots all around, the soldiers flooded the suite.The glass shattered, and the kitchen dishes made a crisp shattering sound. Anderson twisted his neck to see what was going on, but a hand grabbed his hair and slammed his face against the wall.His mouth was full of blood and he bit his own tongue, "What the fuck are you doing here? Do you know who I am?" Carlisle was dragged to him and thrown to the ground next to him.Anderson was almost suffocated and could no longer speak.He saw Carlisle bound, with one eye swollen shut, several gashes bleeding from his browbones, and clotted blood in his brown hair. "Oh my God!" Soldiers twisted Anderson's hands behind his back and tied them up.They grabbed his hair and turned his head this way and that.A soldier shouted something at him, but so fast that he couldn't hear it.The other party became even more angry, his eyes widened, and saliva flew on his face.Finally, Anderson understood one word: clockwork monster. "Where is that clockwork monster? Tell me, where is it?" Panther soldiers smashed everything in his apartment to pieces, locks and doors smashed with rifle butts.Huge black dogs walked in, barking, drooling, sniffing around, howling when they caught the scent of their target.A man, who seemed to be a captain, yelled at him. "What are you guys doing?" Anderson asked again, "I have some friends..." "have nothing left." Akarat strode in from the door. "Akarat!" Anderson turned desperately, and the panthers slammed his face into the wall again, "What happened?" "We're getting ready to ask you the same question." Akarat gave an order in Thai to the soldiers rummaging around.Anderson closed his eyes.Luckily the clockwork girl didn't take his advice and hide in the closet.If she is caught with him, the consequences... A Panther trooper approached, holding Anderson's spring-loaded pistol. Akarat had a look of disgust on his face. "Do you have a gun license?" "We're preparing for a coup and you're asking me if I have a gun license?" Akarat nodded to his men.Anderson was hit against the wall again, and his brain was about to explode in pain.The light in the room seemed to be getting darker, his legs began to feel weak, and he couldn't stand up any longer, "What the hell happened?" Akarat reached for the pistol and fiddled with it carelessly, turning the heavy gun back and forth in his palm, "Where is that clockwork girl?" Anderson spat out the blood in his mouth, "Why are you asking this? You are not a white shirt, nor are you a vegetarian." The Panther troopers again slammed Anderson's head against the wall.Anderson stared. "Where did the clockwork man come from?" Akarat asked. "Japan! From Kyoto, I think!" Akarat pointed the muzzle of a pistol at Anderson's head. "How did you bring her into this country?" "What did you say?" The butt of the pistol hit him hard on the head.The whole world went dark. ... A basin of cold water was splashed on his face.Anderson panted, spat out the water in his mouth, and sat on the ground.Akarat put the spring-loaded pistol to Anderson's throat, forcing him to his feet again, rolling his feet over his toes.Anderson gasped in pain. "How did you bring that clockwork man into this country?" Akarat repeated. Anderson's eyes hurt from sweat and blood.He blinked a few times and shook his head. "I didn't bring her in." He spat out another mouthful of blood, "She was abandoned by the Japanese. How could I have anything to do with a clockwork man?" Akarat smiled and said something to his men. "The Japanese would ditch a military-style clockwork man?" He shook his head. "I don't think so." He smashed Anderson in the ribs with the butt of his pistol.Once, twice, once on one side, the movement is fast.Anderson howled in pain, bent over and coughed, trying to avoid it.Akarat pulled his hair and straightened his body, "A military clockwork man entered our city of angels, why?" "She's not a military type," Anderson retorted, "just a secretary type...she's just..." Akarat was unmoved.He twisted Anderson in a half turn, pressing his face hard against the wall, rubbing his cheekbones against the wall.Anderson felt like his jaw was shattered.He felt Akarat's hand tearing his fingers apart one by one.Anderson was terrified and clenched his fingers. He knew what was going to happen next.But Akarat's hand was so strong that his fingers were still torn apart. The fingers were bent in Akarat's palm, and there was a snap. Anderson screamed, and Akarat supported him, preventing him from falling. When Anderson finally stopped shaking, Akarat grabbed him by the hair and turned him back so they could look at each other.Akarat's tone didn't change at all. "She is of the military type, a killer. And you were the one who introduced her to His Highness Somdej Chao Phraya. Where is she now?" "Killer?" Anderson shook his head, trying to wake up, "Impossible! She is just a piece of garbage made in Japan, abandoned by the Sanxia Machinery Company..." "The Ministry of the Environment is right on at least one point: you Agricorp brutes are not to be trusted at all. You treat the Clockwork Man as a mere fun toy and introduce your killer to the Regent I know you." He leaned over, eyes full of anger, "You dare to kill even members of the royal family." "But, that's impossible!" Anderson was hysterical, and he didn't even think about hiding his emotions.The broken finger was in sharp pain, and a lot of blood flowed from the mouth, "She is just a piece of garbage, it is impossible to do such a thing. You must believe me." "She killed three dignitaries, and their bodyguards. Eight people, each with full military training. This is irrefutable evidence." Suddenly, he remembered Emiko curled up outside the door, covered in blood.Eight people?He remembered her leaping down from above the balcony, disappearing into the darkness like some kind of spirit.What if what they say is true? "There must be some other explanation. She's just a bloody clockwork. They're nothing but following orders." Emiko curled up on the bed, sobbing.She was covered in bruises and cuts. Anderson took a deep breath and tried to control himself, "Please. You must believe me. We will never take such a risk. The death of His Highness Somdej Chao Phraya will not benefit Nongji Company in the slightest, nor will it benefit anyone There is no benefit. If our relationship breaks down, it is in the hands of the Ministry of Environment. There are too many benefits that we can gain through a good relationship." "But you introduced the killer to him!" "I have absolutely no reason to do this. How could a military-style clockwork man have been hidden for so long? The clockwork man has been here for years. You can find out by asking. Her father-san bribed her for a white shirt, In exchange for their tolerance. This kind of show has been going on for years..." He was incoherent, but he could tell Akarat was listening to him.The cold anger in the man's eyes had disappeared, replaced by thought.Anderson spat out the blood in his mouth and looked straight into Akarat's eyes, "Yes, I introduced that creature to His Highness Somdej Chao Phraya, but that was only because she was a novelty. His hobby Everyone knows it." The new anger made Akarat's face twist, and Anderson couldn't help shivering. "Listen, you can send someone to investigate, and if you do, you'll know that we didn't do it. There must be some other explanation. We don't know..." He paused, weary, "As long as Just investigate." "We can't investigate. The Ministry of Environment has taken the investigative powers of the case." "What?" Anderson couldn't hide his surprise. "What right do they have to do that?" "The Clockwork Man gives them an advantage in the fight. She's an alien creature." "Those bastards got the right to investigate, but you still think I'm behind this conspiracy?" Anderson thought hard about it all, searching for reasons, excuses, that might buy him time. "You can't trust them. Pracha and his men..." He paused. "Pracha will take care of us, and he'll do it soon. Maybe he found out about us in some way." Plan, maybe he is already planning an operation against us at this moment. Use this as a cover. If he knows that His Highness Somdej Chao Phraya is trying to harm him..." "Our plans are highly classified," Akarat said. "Nothing can be kept completely secret, especially something as big as we are planning. A general might tip off his old friends. Now, he's only assassinated three of them, and we're starting to fight among ourselves. " Akarat thought about it.Anderson waited.He held his breath. After a long time, Akarat shook his head, "No, Pracha will definitely not kill royal family members. He is a piece of trash, but after all, he is Thai." "But it wasn't me who did it!" Anderson looked at Carlisle. "We didn't do it! There must be another explanation." He started coughing in panic, which soon turned into uncontrollable spasms.Finally, the spasm stopped.His ribs were so painful that he spat out blood.He felt that his lung had probably been pierced by a broken rib. He looked up at Akarat, and tried to control his words to make them sound reasonable, "I will definitely find out what is going on with the conspiracy against His Highness Somdej Chaophya. There must be some connection." A Panther soldier came over and whispered something in Akarat's ear.Anderson thought he had seen this man at the party on the barge.This is one of Somdej Chao Phraya's immediate guards because he has a savage face and calm eyes.He said something more.Akarat nodded quickly, "Khap." Then he motioned for his men to drag Anderson and Carlisle to a nearby room. "Okay, Anderson. We'll see what we can find." They threw him to the ground, and he fell beside Carlisle. "Please don't be polite and try to be as comfortable as possible," Akarat said. "I gave my men twelve hours to investigate. You'd better pray to the gods of some vegetarian sect you believe in and ask them to confirm it for you. Your statement." Anderson felt hope rise in his heart. "Just look for it, and you'll find it's definitely not ours, and you'll know." He licked his cracked lips, "That clockwork man is nothing but a toy made in Japan. The person responsible for it There must be someone else, and the white shirts just want to stir up internal strife between us. I dare say that this incident is probably planned by the white shirts themselves, and they want to drive us apart." "We'll investigate." Anderson leaned his head against the wall, adrenaline burning beneath his skin.His hand was still throbbing, the broken finger hanging uselessly.Time, he bought time.Now all that remains is to wait.He must use this time to find the next grip that will allow him to survive.He coughed again, shivering from the pain in his ribs. Beside him, Carlisle began to moan, but did not wake up.Anderson was still coughing, and at the same time, his eyes were fixed on the wall, trying to prepare himself for the confrontation with Akarat.But when he was trying to think and analyze how the situation had changed so dramatically, another scene continued to haunt him.The Clockwork Girl ran to the balcony, leaping into the darkness faster than anything he had ever seen, like a ghost, with deadly grace.Such swiftness and fluidity gave her an intimidating beauty.